Shuttleless loom



. C. F. LIBBY Nov 21, 1939.

SHUTTLELESS Loon Filed Feb. 26. 1937 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Nov. 21,1939

UNITED STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE snu'rrmzmss LOOM Carl F. Libby, Stoughton, Mass. Application February 26, 1931, Serial 180.1273

10 Claims.

This invention relates to looms. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved loom which is capable of considerably higher speeds of operation than looms heretofore in use. For this purpose, according to the invention, reciprocating parts are eliminated as far as possible, the movement of the various parts being in paths which follow closed curves. Moreover, to avoid delays due to stopping to replenish shuttles, the invention is shown and described as embodied-in a shuttleless loom wherein the filling is drawn directly from one or more thread bodies. The weft or filling is inserted into the shed by a pain of fingers entering the shed alternately from opposite sides and leaving within the shed loops of fillingyarn. Novel reed structure is also provided to beat up the filling toward the fell of the fabric. In order to retain the loops of filling within the shed and to form prope r selvages on the fabric, a knitting needle is provided on each side of the shed'to receive the loopsof filling deposited therein from alternate sidesby the respective fingers. These 'nee-.

', dles knit each loop through the preceding loop,

thus forming knitted selvages-. While the invention is not to be limited to ticular width, the embodiment hereinafter described is more particularly suitable for the weaving of relatively narrow webs.

Various advantageous features of structure will be apparent to one skilled in the art from a disclosure of the invention in the description thereof which follows and in the drawings of which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a loom embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing a diagrammatic arrangement of the warp threads, the filling yarns, the yarn fingers and the knitting needles employed in the loom.

Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the loom shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end portionsof a yarn finger and a knitting needle. .1 n Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown-in Figure 3, but on a larger scale.

Figure 6 is a section on ure 3.

Figure 7 is a section similar to Figure 6 but showing the movable parts in a diflerent position offoperation. y

An example of the type of'fabricwhich can be woven on the loom illustrated on the drawings is shown in Figure 2 wherein the warp threads the line 66 0: Figoms of any parare indicated at A. Two filling yarns B and C are employed, these yarns being deposited in the shed alternately in loops from opposite sides and knitted into the preceding loop of the same yarn. Thus in Figure 2 the loop D in the filling yarn B has been knitted through. the preceding loop E in the same yarn. The loop F in the yarn C, which has just been deposited in the shed, is about to be knitted through the preceding loop G in the same yarn. Thus each of the selvages is formed by knitting successive loops of one ofthe filling yarns.

Figures 1 and 3 illustrate a loom for weaving narrow fabrics or webs, such as that shown in Figure 2. The loom is provided with a main frame 28, a number of heddles'22, a breast beam '24, a fabric take-up roll 26, and an idle roll 28 joumaled in a rockable frame 29 and resting on the roll 26. The roll 26 is immediately below the presser roll 28 and is hidden by the roll 28 in Figure 3. The warp threads are led from a suitable warp supply (not shown) at the rear of the loom through the' eyes of the heddles 22 so as to form a shed between the heddles and the breast beam 24, as indicated in Figures 6 and 7, in a manner well known in the art.

For the weft two filling yarns are supplied respectively to a pair of fingers and 32 from conveniently located thread bodies (not shown). The finger 30 fits slidably in a guide element 34 which is rockable about a vertical axis. An end of the finger is connected as at 36 to a crank 38 in the manner of a pltman. The crank revolves about the axis of a vertical shaft 40 on which it is mounted. As shown in Figure 3, the shaft 40 rotates in acounter-clockwise directions The free end of the finger 30 is provided with an eye 42 for one of thefilling yarns. In like manner, the finger 32, similar to the finger 30, fits slidably in a rocking guide 44, one end of the finger being pivotally attached as at to a crank 48 which revolves about the axis of a vertical shaft SiI-on which it is mounted. The shaft 50 rotates in a clockwise direction.

Cooperating with the fingers 30 and'32 are a pair of knitting needles 52 and 54 (Figure 2). These needles are carried respectively in carriage blocks 56 and 58 which are disposed along opposite side edges of the breast beam 24. The knitting needles are longitudinally slidable in their respective carriage blocks, the blocks themselves being rockableso as to tilt upwardly, as indicated in Figures 1 and 6, to avoid interference with the fingers 30 and 32.

A reed is provided for beating toward the fell of the web. As shown, the reed comprises a series of stationary dents 60 and a double series of movable dents 62a and 62b, the latter being portions of elongated plates 62 which are mounted in parallel spaced relation on a shaft 66, The stationary dents 60 are spaced parallel plates arcuate in shape, each dent presenting a concave arcuate edge 68 which is concentric with the shaft 66 on which the plates 62 are mounted. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the dents 62a and 621) are symmetrical with respect to the shaft 66, the plates 62 being keyed to the shaft 66 as by a suitable key I0 and spaced from each other by suitable washers I2. The stationary dents 60 are likewise spaced by washers of the same thickness so that the dent plates 62 are accurately alined with corresponding dents 60. Each dent 62a and 62b presents a convexly curved edge portion 14 near the end thereof, this edge portion being eccentric with respect to the shaft 66 so as to engage the filling of the shed and to beat it up toward the fell of the web as the movable dents revolve with the shaft 66. Each of the dents 62a and 62b is preferably concaved as at I6 along its rear edge so as to avoid interference with the yarn fingers 30 and 32. The stationary dents 60 are mounted with respect to the shaft 66 in such a manner that the extreme tips of the movable dents 62a and 62b pass very close to the concave edges 68 of the stationary dents 60, there being a clearance of only a few thousandths of an inch. The warp threads from the heddle eyes pass through the spaces between successive dents 60. Since the dent plates 62 are adjusted so as to be in the same planes with corresponding fixed dents 60, and the ends of the moving dents almost touch the edge 68 of the fixed dents, there is no possibility of the dents;

62a and 62b passing between the wrong warp threads as they enter the shed.

The filling yarn is laid in the shed in loops by the action of the fingers 30 and 32. The action of the finger 30 is illustrated in Figure 5, the

finger entering through the wide portion of the shed remote from the breast beam, and then sweeping rapidly into the shed and toward the fell until its end portion passes laterally over the end portion of the knitting needle 54 as illustrated. in Figure 4. The end of each finger is indented in its lower face as at 80 (Figures 4 and 6) so as to receive the end of the knitting needle so as to engage the loop of filling'yarn in the hook of the needle, The finger is then retracted across the needle between the hook and the end of the open latch so that its eye 42 follows a path indicated by a dotted line in Figure 5, The knitting needle 54 is then retracted to cast off the previous loop of filling .which has the knitting needle 52, which has previously completed the operation of casting off, is projected toward the rear of the loom (that is, toward the right in Figure 5), so as to shift the new filling loop below the latch. In order to avoid inter-' ference between the knitting needle 52 and the finger 30 as the latter is being retracted through the shed, the knitting needle 52 is tilted upward as it is projected rearward so that it rides above the finger 30 until the finger has been fully retracted from the shed.

These movements of the knitting needles may be brought about by any suitable apparatus such as that illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 for the needle 52. As therein shown, the needle carrier 56 is pivotally mounted so as to rock about a pivot 86 near its rear end. At a point 88 near its front end, the carrier 56 is pivotally attached to a link which extends down and is pivoted as at 92 to a pitman 94. This pitman is connected at 96 to a crank wheel 91 which is mounted on a shaft 98, The pitman 94 is slotted as at I00 so as to be guided by a fixed pin I02 which rides in the slot. Rotation of the shaft 98 causes the pitman 94 to reciprocate relatively to the pin I02 and also to rock about that pin as a pivot, thus imparting a peculiar rocking movement to the needle carriage 56. Longitudinal sliding movement is imparted to the needle itself by a rocking lever I04 which is notched as at I06 to receive a needle tab I08 at the base of the needle 52. The lever I04 is connected as by a link IIO to the pitman 94 as indicated in Figures 6 and '7. Thus rotation of the shaft 98 results in a reciprocation of the knitting needle 52, this reciprocatory motion being combined with a tilting movement as the needle carriage 56 is rocked by rotation of the shaft 98. Similar mechanism is provided for the actuation of the knitting needle 54 and its carriage 58 through a similar shaft 98.

In order to draw each of the filling yarns from their respective yarn bodies for the fingers 30 and 32 at an approximately constant rate, a movable yarn guide is supplied for each of the fingers. As shown in- Figures '1 and 3, a yarn guide H2 is provided for the finger 30, the yarn being led from a yarn body (not shown but preferably mounted at the rear of the loom) through the eye ll2,'then through an eye II3 carried adjacent to the pivoted end of, the finger, and then to the eye 42 in the free end of the finger The eye H2 is caused to move back and forth so as to provide extra yarn rapidly when the finger is being projected through the guide 34 toward the rear of the loom. During the retraction of the finger, the eye H2 is moved in the opposite direction so as to draw an extra supply of yarn to be available for the finger when it is again projected through the guide 34. Thus the yarn is drawn from the thread body at an approximately constant rate, the moving eye H2 compensating for the intermittent demand of the finger 30. The eye H2 is mounted on a stem II4 extending from a rock shaft I I6. The shaft H6 is rocked by a lever I I8 which is pivotally attached to a pitman I20, the other end of which is connected to a crank pin revolving about a shaft I22. Figure 1 illustrates similar mechanism for regulating the filling yarn feed to the finger 32. As shown, the yarn passes through an eye I24 which is mounted on the end of a lever I26 rocked by a shaft I28. The shaft I28 is rocked by a lever I30 which is pivotally attached to a pitman I32 connected to a crank pin I34 on a crank I36. The yarn passing through the eye I24 goes to a guiding eye I40 carried adjacent to the pivoted end of the finger 32.

The various mechanisms hereinbefore described may be driven from a main drive shaft I50 on which is mounted a pulley I52 carrying a belt I54 through which the pulley wheel is rotated by any suitable source of power. On the shaft I 50 is mounted a pinion I58 which meshes with a pinion I60 mounted on the shaft 66. As previously mentioned, the movable dents of the reed are also mounted on the shaft 66. This shaft extends across the entire machine. At its ends are mounted a pair of pinions I62. Each pinion I62, as indicated in Figure 3, meshes with an'idle pinion I66 which in turn meshes with a pinion gear I94'mounted on a shaft I96.

I68 mounted on one of the shafts 88 for the operation of the corresponding knitting needle and its carriage as hereinbefore described. Since the driving connections between the shaft 66 and 'For driving the yarn fingers 38 and 32, a pinion I18 is mounted on the main drive shaft I50 so as to mesh with a gear wheel I12. The latter meshes with a pinion I14 mounted on the shaft I22. This shaft carries a pair of bevel gears I16 which mesh respectively with corresponding bevel gears I18, the latter being mounted respectively on the vertical shafts 48 and 58 which drive the yarn fingersas hereinbefore described.

For operating the heddles 22, the gear wheel I12 is mounted on a horizontal shaft I88 on which is also mounted a bevel gear, I82 meshing with a corresponding gear I84 which in turn is mounted on a shaft I86. On the shaft I86 are mounted suitable cams I98 which act through cam followers I92 to reciprocate the heddles 22 in a manner well known in the art.

For driving the take-up'roll 26, the shaft I86 carries a worm I92 which meshes with a worm This shaft is connected through a suitable train of gears, inclusively indicated at 288, to a shaft 282 on which is mounted the fabric take-up roll 26. By changing some of the gear wheels in this gear train for gear wheels of different sizes, the rate of rotation ofthe take-up roll 26 can be regulated.

The operation of inserting a loop of filling and beating up the loop in the fabric takes place in the following manner. Referring to Figure 5, successive portions of the guide eye 42 in the end of the finger 38 are indicated by #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8. The position corresponding to #1 is the same as that illustrated in Figures 1 3 and 6. The successive positions indicated by these numbers are spaced by equal intervals of time, each interval corresponding to 34; of a revolution of the crank 38. Thus it is; apparent that,

.when the finger 38 is in the position indicated by. #1,. it is swinging very rapidly through the shed to the position illustrated in Figure 4 wherein it catches the loop of filling on the hook of the needle 54. This movement of the finger 38 closely follows the movement of the reed dents 62a as they beatup the filling loop which has just been inserted by the other finger 32. When the finger 38' reaches the position illustrated in full lines in Figure 5, that is, between positions #1 and #2. the knitting needle 54 is projected rearwardly to be in position to receive the loop of filling from the finger 38. At the same timefthe needle 52, which has receivedthe previous loop from the finger 32, has been fully retracted to cast off the old loop and. is now being advanced.

to move the new'loop below the.latch.. As it moves, it is tilted up, as previously described, so

the heddles are actuated to change the shed and the dents 62b swing through the shed to; beat up the filling. During this movement of the finger, the guide eye II2 has been swinging toward the front of the loom so as to draw yarn from the yarn body for quick supplyto the finger when it is projected toward the right-through the guide finger in o and outoLthe shed.

34. The movement of the eye 42 from #4 to position #5 is relatively slow, amounting practically to a brief pause during which mantel:-

ly inserted loop offilling is beaten up and locked in position by the changing of the shed. As the eye of the finger 38 moves from position #5 to position #8, the guide eye II2 swings toward the rear of'the loom so as to supply yarn quickly to the finger without jerking it from the thread body. Since the end of the finger enters the rear of the shed, the operation of the heddles can. be completed as the finger is entering the shed. ,This afiords an ample period 'of time for the shifting of the heddles, which is important when operating the loom at high speed. The movements of the finger 32 from the-opposite side of responding position four stations from the finger. 38. For example, when the finger 38 is at position #3, the finger 32 will at the same instant be in a position corresponding to that indicated by #7.

The movements of the fingers, needles and reeds are properly correlated to avoid interference and to minimize idle periods in the cycles of operation of these parts. Thus, as is evident from a comparison of Figures 5, 6 and 7, the filling fingers and sets of reed dents alternately enter the shed at the rear, move forward therein,; and move out at the forward end, each finger entering the shed before the preceding set of reed dents has moved out of the shed at the fell, and eachset of reed dents entering the shed before the preceding finger has been retracted .from the shed. Thus at all times there is at least one forwardly moving member within the shed. I The reed shaftf66, the cranks 38' and 48, the knitting needle drive shafts 98, and the cranks I36 for the yarn guides all revolve at the same speed. During a single revolution of each of these parts, two loops offilling "are inserted in the shed and beaten up. .This, in conjunction with other factors such as the curved paths followed by the free ends of the filling fingers, results in a loom which is capable of operation at phenomenally high speeds.

It is evident that many modifications and changes may be madein the loom herein shown and described without'departing from the spirit or, scope of the invention as defined in the followin claims. I

I'claim:

1. In a loom, shed-forming means, a filling finger on each side of said shed, each said/finger having a guide eye f filling yarn in the free end thereof, and means or swinging each said finger about a pivot so that said end entersthe wide end of the shed, is projected through to the op posite side of the shed, is retracted along a-path adjacent'to the fell of the fabric, and is advanced along theside of the shed to a point adjacent to the' wide end thereof, said advancing movement of each finger along the side of the shed taking place dur ng t he movement of the end of the other 2. In a loom, shed-forming means, a finger for projecting loops of filling yarn through the shed, and means for actuating said finger, said actuating means including aguide' member slidably receiving said finger and 'rockableabout a I.

fixed vertical axis, a crank attached directly to said finger and revolvable about a vertical axis, and means on the opposite side of the warp for catching and securing said loops.

3. In a loom, shed-forming means, a filling finger having an eye in one end for the fillling yarn, and means for causing said end of the finger to move into and out of the shed in a closed curvilinear path, said means comprising a guide member through which said finger is longitudinally slidable, and means for causing the other end of said finger to move in a circular path.

4. In a loom, shed-forming means, an elongated filling finger having an eye in an end thereof for the filling yarn and supported at one side of the shed, means for moving said finger so that said end thereof moves along the near side of the shed, then into the shed in an are extending from the near side and open end of the shed to the far side of the shed near the fell of the fabric, then back through the shed near the fell of the fabric to the starting point, and means at the far side of the shed for catching the loop of filling yarn carried through the shed by said finger.

5. In a loom, shed-forming means, an elongated finger having an eye in one end thereof for filling yarn, driving means connected to the other end of said finger, and guide means through which said finger is longitudinally slidabie, said driving means including a vertical shaft, a crank arm mounted on said shaft and directly connected to said other end of the finger, and means for rotating said shaft at constant speed.

'6. In a loom, shed-forming means, a filling finger having a guide eye in the free end thereof supported at one side of the shed, means for projecting said finger into said shed with a forward sweeping movement in an areuate path within the shed from the rear to the front of the shed and withdrawing said finger near the fell of the fabric, a beat-up mechanism having elements movable in vertical planes to enter the shed from below at the rear thereof and to move down and out of the shed at the fell of the fabric, said beat-up mechanism being so constructed and arranged as to avoid conflict with the movement of the finger and means for operating said finger and beat-up mechanism so that the finger enters the shed before the beat-up elements leave the shed.

7. In a loom, shed-forming means, a filling finger having a guide eye near its free end for the filling yarn, a-piyot for said fi-n'ger near one end of thefell of the fabric, and means for periodically swinging said finger into said shed about said pivot and withdrawing said finger from said said eye before the finger enters the shed, said moving means thereupon acting to project said eye through the shed rapidly to the further side and to retract said eye relatively slowly to clear the shed.

9. In a loom, shed-forming means, a filling finger having a guide eye near the free end thereof for projecting loops of filling yarn through the shed, a yarn guide on said loom through which the yarn passes before it reaches the guide eye in the finger, means for moving said finger outside of the shed relatively to said yarn guide so that sufficient yarn for a loop is drawn through said eye before the finger enters the shed, said moving means thereupon acting to project said eye through the shed rapidly to the further side and to retract s'aid eye relatively slowly to clear the shed, a second finger and yarn guide on the other side of the shed, and means for op erating said second finger with a movement complemental to that of the first-mentioned finger, said movements being timed so that movement of each finger in and out of the shed synchronizes with the movement of the other finger outside of the shed.

10. In a loom, shed-forming means, a filling finger on each side of said shed, each finger having a yarn guide eye in the free end thereof, means for projectin Said fingers alternately into said shed so-that the guide eye of each finger describesa, path entering at the rear end of the shed, eirtendingacross the shed and forward to introduce a loop of weft yarn, and returning across the shed near the fell of the fabric, a beat-up mechanism having a plurality of sets of beat-up elements movable into the shed at the rear end thereof, forward within the shed, and out of the shed at the fell of the fabric, and means for causing said fingers and beat-up elements to enter the shed in alternation, said means being constructed and arranged to introduce each finger into the shed while the preceding beat-up e1ementis beating up the previous weft loop and to introduce each beat-up element into the shed before the preceding finger has been withdrawn from the shed.

CARL F. LIBBY. 

